Starting-crank for hydrocarbon-engines.



A. M. WALSTROM. STARTINGGRANK FOR HYDROCARBON ENGINES. APPLIC ATION FILED AUG. 31, 1911.

1,084,543. I Patented Aug. 6,1912.

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AXEL M. WALSTROM, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

; STARTING-CRANK FOR HYDROCARIBON-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912. Serial No. 647,110.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AxEL M. WALSTROM, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting-Cranks for Hydrocarbon-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is particularly designed to be used in conjunction with the combined compression release and priming device on which U. .S. Letters Patent No. 981337 was issued to me on Jan. 10, 1911. Said device being adapted to form an explosive mix ture on a comparatively slow movementof the pistons and incidentally releasing the compression in the cylinders, which, taken in conjunction with the increased leverage obtained by the use of my present invention, facilitates the cranking -to an extent that makes it possible for a child to start a large engine.

The object of my invention is to provide a starting crank for hydrocarbon engines by means of which the operator may, either, connect said crank directly to the engine shaft when it is found necessary to turn the engine over rapidly, as in starting on the magneto in cold weather, or, connect said crank to the engine shaft through reducing gears whereby the revolution of the crank to the engine shaft is multiplied and thereby turning the engine shaft more slowly but with less eflort, yet starting the engine under favorable circumstances, as, for example, in starting on the batteries in warm weather and with a high grade of gasolene, or when used inconjunction with the above mentioned priming device.

A further object is to provide a starting crank by means 'of which a strong person may start the engine in the customary way, but, being also adapted to be used with ease and perfect safety by a youth, woman or other person having less strength and courage.

The invention consists generally in the constructions and features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is afront view of a portion of an automobile with my invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my invention, and Fig. 3 is a rear View thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line XX of Fig. 2. g

In the drawing, 22 represents the longitudinal frame members of an automobile connected by a transverse frame member 3 upon which the radiator 4 is mounted. The starting crank shaft 5 is slidably mounted in a bearing 6 beneath the member 3 and provided on one'end with a jaw clutch member 7 adapted to engage a corresponding member on the engine crank shaft (not shown) and normally held out of contact therewith by a. spring 8.

The parts above described are common to nearly all automobiles and to facilitate the attachment of my invention thereto I merely remove the crank secured to the outer end of the shaft 5 and substitute the parts hereinafter described.

A collar 10 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 5 by a set screw 11, and is provided with a friction band 12 adapted to be contracted by a screw 13 to'grip the friction surface of a flange 14 with sufficient tension to hold under normal conditions, but, adapted to slip under excessive strain, as in the case of a premature explosion causing a sudden reverse movement of the engine shaft. The flange 14 is integral with an internally toothed gear 15, which has a bearing 16 in a casing 17 and free to revolve therein in one direction, but prevented from revolving in the opposite direction by a pawl 18 mounted in said casing and yieldingly held in engagement with the teeth of said gear by a spring 18.

The casing 17 has stud 17 projecting through a central opening 17 in the gear 15 and provided with a cotter pin 17 which prevents separation of the parts. The casing 17 is also provided with a projecting crank arm 19, which I will hereinafter term a primary crank. This primary crank is provided at its outer end with an integral hook 20 adapted to be inserted into the looped end 21 of a strap 22, which is secured to a frame member 2 or other suitable part of the automobile. Thus, the casing 17 is prevented from revolving in one direction. The said casing 17 is provided with a bearing for a stud 23, which is provided on its inner end with a pinion 24: meshing with the gear 15, and on its outer end with a crank arm 25, which I will designate a secondary crank. crank is provided with a hand: grip- 26 free to revolve on a hollow stud 27.

Any suitable means for detachably con-.

necting the primary and secondary cranks may be employed, but I prefer the mecha-. msm shown 111 the drawmg and consisting of a bolt 28 slidably arranged within the stud 27 and having one end 29. adapted to be projected by a spring 30 into a hole 31 in the primary crank and thereby interlocking said cranks. The other end of the bolt 28 is provided with a head 32 having an inwardly extending'projection 33 adapted to enter a recess 34 in the outer end of the stud 27 when the bolt is in its projected mary crank and thereby revolving thepin ion 24, which,in turn, will revolve-the gear 15, the collar 10, shaft 5 andtheengine shaft. Should the movement f the shaft he suddenly reversed through a premature ignition of the charge in the cylinders,-there will be no danger of injury to the operator if the secondary crank is used, as the pawl 18 will prevent reverse movement of the .parts.

My invention is also adapted for-use in connection with stationary, marine andmojtor truck engines and may be modlfied lln varlous ways without departing from its general principle.

I claim as my invention, 1. A starting crank for hydrocarbon engines, comprising, a starting crank shaft having means for connection with the engine shaft, an internally toothed gear havving frictional connection wlthsaid starting crankshaft, a caslng lnclosmg sald gear,

.means carried by said:casing for-preventing w reverse movement of said gear, a pinion meshing with said gear and .carried by. a

:stud having a bearing. in said casing, an

operating handle secured to. said stud, detachable means for. preventlng revolution of said casing, and means for interlocking said. casing and: sa1d operating handle.

2. A: starting crank for hydrocarbon. engines, comprising, a starting crank shaft having means at one end for connectlon wlth This secondary the engine crank shaft'and provided at its other end with one inember ofa friction clutch, an internally toothed gearcarried by the other member of said friction clutch, a casingflinclosing said-gear, means provided in said casing for preventing reverse movement of saidgear, a pinion meshing with said gear and carried by an operating crank having a bearing in said casingg detachable means for preventmg revolution of said casing, and means for interlocking said casing and said operating crank so that they may be revolved together. a

A starting cra k for hydrocarbon engines, comprising, an auxiliary shaft having means at one end adapted to engage the engine shaft, aicasing provided at the other end of said auxiliary shaft,-.intermeshing gears provided in said casing, onerof said gears being yieldingly connected with said auxiliary shaft, an operating crank connected with'another of said gears, the relative sizes of-said gears being such that it will require several revolutions of said operating crank to revolve said auxiliary shaft once, means withinsaid-casing for preventing re.- verse movementof said gears and said, operating crank, detachable means for preventing revolutionof said casing whensaid operating crank is being used, and means for interlocking said 'casing and saidoperating crank so as to cause said operating crank said casing and said auxiliary shaftto revolve'together' atthe same speed.

. A starting device for; hydrocarbon engines, comprising, anauxiliary shaft having means at one end adaptedto be connected with the engine shaft and a casing at the other end provided with a crank arm, detachable means engaging saidgcrank arm and preventing revolution of said casing, an operating crank having. a bearing in said casing and yieldingly connected to said auxiliary shaft through suitable gearing within said casing whereby said auxiliary shaft is revolved at a slower speed-than thatof said operating crank; means for preventing reverse movement 'of said operating crank, and means whereby said crank arm and said ,operatingcrank maybe connected and revolved together and causing said auxiliary shafttobe revolved'at thesame, speed as said operating cran 5.1 A startlng device for hydrocarbon engines, compr1s1ng an-auxiharylshaft adapt- .ed to be moved into or out ofengagement with the engine shaft, a crank arm mounted on the outerend of 'saidauxiliaryshaft, de-

tachable means for preventing rotation of said crank arm, a suitable friction clutch interposed between said} auxiliary :shaft and said crank arm, anoperating crank-pro vided near=said cranka-rm, suitable speed reducing gearing connecting said operating crank with one member of said friction clutch whereby said auxiliary shaft may be In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set revolved at a slower speed than said operatmy hand this 29th day of August 1911. ing crank, means for interlocking said crank arm and said operating crank so that said AXEL WALSTROM' auxiliary shaft said crank arm and said op- Witnesses:

erating crank may be revolved together at M. R. McINNIs,

the same speed. 0. H. REHrUss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

